Publication date: 01.06.2026

Busting the biggest myths about no till farming!

Debunking myths: no-till farming and no-till cultivator in farming practices

Learn about the stereotypes and myths surrounding no-till farming

Switching from traditional ploughing to no-till systems can feel like a revolution on the farm. No wonder so many stereotypes have grown around it. They are often repeated by people who have never tried no till cultivation and are simply afraid of change. Yet in Greater Poland – especially in the Września district, where class IIIb–V soils dominate and annual rainfall is low (around 500 mm) – no till farming helps retain moisture and reduce erosion. That’s why we’re taking a closer look at the most common myths, together with local no till farming specialist Rolmako.

Myth 1: No-till requires expensive machinery and powerful tractors

No-till farming isn't just for large farms

Facts: Many Polish farmers started no-till with a simple 70 HP Zetor and an old cultivator – not a huge tractor and a costly drill. Equipment should always be matched to the size and specifics of the farm. In the Września area, small and medium farms successfully use stubble cultivators, light disc harrows, and cutting rollers.

Advice from Rolmako: The brand’s goal is to provide no till machinery for every farm, including smaller ones. That’s why the specialists made sure the range also includes compact equipment that can be operated with a 105 HP tractor. One example is the U436 no-till cultivator with a 2.4 m working width. Thanks to this, farms of 20–30 hectares do not have to invest in a massive machinery fleet. Rolmako emphasizes that in most cases it is enough to equip a cultivator with suitable rollers (there are around 30 types available!), use a solid disc harrow for no till technology, and carry out sowing with a classic disc seed drill.

Rolmako u436 premium cultivator – no-till farming for small farms

Myth 2: No-till does not work on clay soils

Facts: In nature, NO soil is turned over, so deep ploughing is not a natural process – even on clay. In the Września district, many fields are class IVa–V, often clayey and mosaic. Traditionally, ploughing loosened them, but at the same time led to drying and structural degradation. No till farming also works on heavier soils, provided that the correct working depth is applied and compacted layers are loosened in a controlled way. In the Września area, subsoilers or cultivators with loosening tines can successfully break plough pans, while in other years shallow cultivation is sufficient. Experience from farms in the Lublin region and Lower Silesia shows that no-till performs well on clay soils, even on undulating land. After several seasons, soils become more crumbly thanks to earthworm activity and natural root channels.

Deep soil loosening with the Rolmako U602 subsoiler - plough pan removed

Advice from Rolmako: Subsoilers are a very important part of the brand’s offer. The universal U602 can work at depths of up to 60 cm (and, referring back to the previous myth, it is available with a 1.6 m working width and can operate with a 105 HP tractor, so it is also suitable for smaller farms). On larger farms using no-till systems, chisel ploughs are applied to provide more comprehensive soil loosening.

U624 chisel plow – soil loosening without turning and an alternative to ploughing

Myth 3: Even in no-till, you need to plough every 3–4 years

Claim: Without a plough, soil will eventually compact and lose fertility, so from time to time the field still has to be ploughed.

ploughing vs. soil degradation and the lack of benefits of no-till farming

Fact: Observations from farmers practicing no-till for over a decade show the opposite – nutrient levels and organic matter increase in the topsoil, and plant root systems penetrate deeper. Engineers from IUNG in Puławy have recorded higher nutrient content in the upper 20 cm and reduced soil compaction. Returning to ploughing disrupts this structure – it destroys channels created by roots and earthworms and introduces oxygen into deeper layers, accelerating humus mineralization. As a consequence, biological activity decreases and the soil loses its ability to retain water. That is why most farmers who have switched to no till farming do not return to the plough.

Removing soil compaction with the Rolmako U614 subsoiler—no-till farming instead of traditional ploughing

Advice from Rolmako: The brand recommends flexibility and careful field observation rather than rigidly sticking to one solution (such as only shallow cultivation). Subsoilers are ideal for eliminating compaction and plough pans – both across the entire field and in wheel tracks.

Myth 4: No-till is not suitable for root crops

Claim: No till farming works for cereals or oilseed rape, but not for potatoes or sugar beet.

Potato cultivation using the following system: no-till farming, adhering to principles such as crop rotation

Facts: Potatoes and sugar beet are popular crops in Greater Poland, so farmers’ concerns are understandable. Root crops have either shallow or strongly developed root systems (potato – fibrous, sugar beet – taproot) and require a well-loosened soil profile. For this reason, deep loosening after harvest (e.g. 25–35 cm) combined with careful preparation of the topsoil layer for planting or sowing is essential. In practice, reduced or no till farming are often used. This technology saves fuel, limits erosion, and allows for more precise fertilization.

Advice from Rolmako: Growing root crops in a no till agriculture is possible, but it requires adapted technology. Rolmako sees great potential in no-till and is working on developing machines ideally suited to Greater Poland’s field conditions. As with any ploughless system, crop rotation and careful stubble cultivation remain crucial.

Rolmako OptiCrop seeder – no-till farming and seeding using modern agricultural machinery

Myth 5: No-till always requires more agricultural chemicals

Claim: Without ploughing, pest, disease, and weed pressure increases, so more plant protection products are necessary.

No-till farming does not mean more agricultural chemicals

Facts: The use of plant protection products in no till cultivation is a broad topic (worthy of a separate article). In short – yes, shallowly mixed crop residues can create favorable conditions for unwanted species. This can be managed with properly selected agronomic practices, although on some fields pesticides may indeed be necessary (for example in long-term monoculture, highly simplified crop rotations, or during the first winter oilseed rape crops). It is worth emphasizing that increased weed pressure is not solely the result of abandoning the plough, but often of earlier management mistakes – and after several seasons of well-managed no-till, the problem diminishes.

Advice from Rolmako: Chemical use can be minimized – preferably by combining several methods. A crop rotation including “cleansing” crops, thorough chopping and distribution of residues to accelerate decomposition, rapid post-harvest cultivation, and mechanical weed destruction shortly after emergence. In addition to numerous post-harvest machines (such as cultivators and combinations like U497, ComboTill, or the previously mentioned U436 no-till cultivator), Rolmako also offers equipment strictly for mechanical weed control. It is worth trying the ActivAgro weeder, Matrix rotary harrow, or the SpeedCutter disc harrow.

ActiVAgro weed controller from Rolmako – no-till farming and mechanical weed control

Summary – facts win over myths

It is not the technology that causes problems, but its improper use. Many farmers in Greater Poland who have boldly set aside the plough cannot imagine returning to traditional ploughing. They admit that the initial transition period requires more effort in weed control and soil observation, but over time the benefits prevail: lower fuel costs, better water retention, higher biological activity, and more stable yields. No till farming works on both light sandy soils and heavier clays – provided that soil and crop rotation are managed wisely.